Biwin Black Opal X570 2TB SSD Review: A Mid-Tier Contender in a Crowded Market
📷 Image source: cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net
Introduction
A New Player Enters the SSD Arena
The storage market welcomes another competitor with Biwin's Black Opal X570 2TB solid-state drive. This PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD aims to balance performance and affordability, targeting users who need substantial capacity without breaking the bank. According to tomshardware.com, the drive positions itself in the increasingly competitive mid-range segment, where value propositions often determine success.
Biwin Technology, while less established than some competitors, brings manufacturing experience from the memory and storage industry. The Black Opal X570 represents their attempt to capture attention with a 2-terabyte model that promises respectable speeds for gaming and content creation. The drive's release comes as consumers increasingly prioritize fast storage for both work and entertainment applications.
Technical Specifications
Under the Hood of the Black Opal X570
The Biwin Black Opal X570 utilizes a Phison E21T controller, a component known for balancing performance and power efficiency in mid-range SSDs. This controller pairs with 176-layer 3D TLC NAND flash memory, which offers improved density and endurance compared to older technologies. The drive operates on the PCIe 4.0 interface, supporting NVMe 1.4 protocol for modern compatibility.
With a rated sequential read speed of up to 7,000 megabytes per second and write speeds up to 6,500 MB/s, the specifications place it squarely in the upper mid-range category. The drive features a single-sided design that makes it compatible with most laptops and compact systems, while its 2TB capacity provides ample space for games, applications, and media files according to the tomshardware.com review published on 2025-09-16T14:00:00+00:00.
Performance Testing Methodology
How the Review Put the SSD Through Its Paces
Tom's Hardware subjected the Biwin Black Opal X570 to their standard battery of tests using a controlled testing environment. The evaluation platform consisted of an AMD Ryzen 9 7950X processor on an X670E motherboard with 32GB of DDR5 memory, running Windows 11. This setup ensured that storage performance would not be bottlenecked by other system components during testing.
The comprehensive testing suite included synthetic benchmarks like CrystalDiskMark and ATTO, which measure raw throughput under ideal conditions. Real-world tests involved transferring large files, loading game levels, and measuring application launch times. Thermal performance was also monitored using infrared thermography to assess how well the drive manages heat during sustained operations, a critical factor for maintaining performance over time.
Benchmark Results Analysis
Numbers That Define the Experience
In synthetic benchmarks, the Biwin Black Opal X570 delivered results largely consistent with its specifications. CrystalDiskMark recorded sequential read speeds of approximately 6,900 MB/s and write speeds around 6,400 MB/s, coming within 5% of the advertised maximums. These numbers place it competitively against other drives in its price category, though it doesn't challenge premium models that exceed 10,000 MB/s speeds.
Random performance, which more closely reflects everyday usage patterns, showed the drive handling 4K read operations at around 800,000 IOPS (input/output operations per second) and write operations at approximately 700,000 IOPS. While these figures are respectable, they trail behind some competitors that optimize more aggressively for mixed workloads. The consistency of performance across multiple test runs indicated stable firmware and adequate thermal management.
Real-World Usage Scenarios
Beyond the Benchmark Numbers
For gaming applications, the Biwin Black Opal X570 demonstrated noticeable improvements over SATA SSDs and older NVMe drives. Game load times in titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Microsoft Flight Simulator were reduced by 15-20% compared to PCIe 3.0 drives, though the difference became less pronounced when compared to other PCIe 4.0 competitors. The 2TB capacity proved sufficient for storing numerous AAA titles simultaneously without requiring constant management.
Content creators working with large video files benefited from the drive's sequential transfer speeds. Editing 4K footage directly from the drive was generally smooth, though projects with extremely high bitrate footage sometimes revealed the drive's limitations compared to enterprise-grade storage. The drive's performance remained consistent during extended writing sessions, showing no significant thermal throttling under normal ambient conditions.
Thermal Performance and Cooling
Managing Heat Under Pressure
The Biwin Black Opal X570 employs a thin graphene-based thermal pad rather than an elaborate heatsink, reflecting its positioning as a value-oriented solution. During testing, the drive reached maximum temperatures of approximately 75°C under sustained heavy workloads. While this is within operational limits, it approaches the threshold where some controllers begin to throttle performance to prevent damage.
Without additional cooling, the drive maintained stable performance for most consumer use cases but showed thermal throttling during extended continuous writes exceeding 200 gigabytes. Users installing the drive in poorly ventilated systems or laptops might consider adding aftermarket cooling solutions for optimal sustained performance. The thermal management approach represents a cost-saving measure that affects performance under extreme conditions but suffices for typical usage patterns.
Endurance and Reliability Considerations
How Long Will It Last?
Biwin rates the Black Opal X570 2TB model with 1,200 TBW (terabytes written), which translates to a five-year warranty under typical consumer usage patterns. This endurance rating is average for TLC-based drives in this category, suggesting the drive should withstand several years of regular use before potential NAND wear becomes a concern. The rating assumes approximately 657 gigabytes of writes per day over the warranty period.
The drive lacks power-loss protection features found in more expensive models, meaning sudden power interruptions could potentially cause data corruption during active write operations. While this is common for consumer-grade SSDs, users working with critical data should maintain proper backup procedures. The manufacturer does not disclose the specific NAND manufacturer, creating some uncertainty about long-term reliability compared to drives using well-established flash memory from companies like Micron or Samsung.
Price Positioning and Market Context
Value Proposition in a Crowded Field
At its launch price point, the Biwin Black Opal X570 2TB positions itself as a budget-friendly PCIe 4.0 option. According to tomshardware.com's assessment, it typically sells for 15-20% less than established brands with similar specifications. This pricing strategy reflects Biwin's position as a challenger brand attempting to gain market share through aggressive value propositions.
The drive enters a market segment where numerous competitors offer similar specifications, including brands like Crucial, Kingston, and Western Digital. Consumers must weigh Biwin's price advantage against the established reputation and proven reliability of more familiar brands. The value equation becomes particularly interesting when comparing against previous-generation PCIe 3.0 drives that often sell at similar price points while offering lower performance ceilings.
Comparative Analysis Against Competitors
How It Stacks Up Against the Competition
When compared directly against similarly priced options like the Crucial P5 Plus or Kingston KC3000, the Biwin Black Opal X570 shows competitive sequential performance but slightly weaker random I/O capabilities. Its performance per dollar ratio appears favorable, though the margin is not substantial enough to clearly dominate the category. The drive's consistency across different workload types places it in the middle tier of PCIe 4.0 SSDs.
Against budget PCIe 4.0 options using QLC NAND, the Biwin drive maintains an advantage in sustained write performance and endurance thanks to its TLC architecture. However, it faces stiff competition from sales and promotions on better-known brands that occasionally drop to similar price points. The lack of bundled software or additional utilities, common with some competitors, slightly diminishes its overall value proposition despite the hardware's competent performance.
Potential Use Cases and Target Audience
Who Should Consider This Drive?
The Biwin Black Opal X570 2TB suits budget-conscious builders seeking PCIe 4.0 speeds without premium prices. It works well as a primary drive for gaming systems where load time reductions are valued but absolute maximum performance isn't critical. The capacity makes it suitable for users who want to store multiple large games simultaneously without constant management.
Content creators on tight budgets may find the drive adequate for moderate video editing workloads, though professionals working with high-bitrate footage might prefer drives with better sustained write performance. Secondary storage applications in workstations also represent a good use case, where the drive's capacity and respectable speeds can handle project files and assets without breaking the bank. The drive's compatibility with PlayStation 5 storage expansion makes it a potential option for console users seeking additional game storage.
Limitations and Considerations
What Buyers Should Know Before Purchasing
Prospective buyers should note that while the Biwin Black Opal X570 delivers good value, it comes from a less established brand in the consumer SSD space. This creates uncertainty about long-term firmware support, warranty fulfillment, and overall product longevity compared to market leaders. The drive's performance, while competent, doesn't excel in any particular area that would distinguish it from numerous similar options.
The thermal solution may prove inadequate for sustained heavy workloads in poorly ventilated systems, potentially requiring aftermarket cooling for optimal performance. Users requiring power-loss protection for critical data should look to more expensive alternatives with capacitor-backed write protection. The drive's availability might also be limited in some regions compared to mainstream brands, potentially complicating warranty claims or support requests down the line.
Industry Context and Technological Trends
Where This Drive Fits in the Storage Landscape
The Biwin Black Opal X570 arrives as the storage industry transitions toward PCIe 5.0 interfaces, making PCIe 4.0 the new mainstream standard. Its positioning reflects the ongoing democratization of high-speed storage, where technologies recently considered premium become accessible to budget-conscious consumers. This trend benefits users through improved performance at lower price points across the market.
The drive's use of 176-layer NAND technology represents current-generation manufacturing processes that improve density and reduce costs. As the industry continues developing higher-layer-count NAND, prices per gigabyte continue declining while performance improves. The competitive landscape shows no signs of slowing, with numerous manufacturers vying for market share in the increasingly important SSD market as traditional hard drives become relegated to archival storage roles.
Reader Perspective
Join the Conversation
What factors matter most to you when selecting storage solutions? Are you prioritizing raw speed, value per gigabyte, or brand reputation and warranty terms? How do you balance the trade-offs between established brands and challenger companies offering better specifications for the price?
Have you experimented with lesser-known storage brands, and what was your experience with reliability and performance over time? For those who have used both budget and premium SSDs, how noticeable are the real-world differences in everyday computing, gaming, or content creation workflows?
#SSD #Storage #PCHardware #GamingPC #TechReview
